The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1887-07-06

And love Is lightened Of its load of care
H @. Keenc in The Academy.
ROMANCE OF A LITER.
She was a beautiful, attractive woman,
black eyed and crimson checked, with a
splendid bust, and arms which she did not
mind showing. was little, pale crea-
ture, neither ugly nor pretty, but l did
not envy her. Let all the men on earth
admire heroine loved me. II was fair
In his eyes cared nothing for her.
The other girls were Jealous at times.
Madge Burt and Barbara Brown declared
that there was no such thing as getting
any attention from any one where she
was, and certainly she tried her bet to
fascinate. Militant Bray was her nni.ie,
and understand that, young as she was,
she was divorced woman.
1t may have been that she was very
much Ill used by her husband and had
been the injured party altogether-I pre-
sumo it is often so-but pure women will
bear great deal rather than sever the
holy tie that binds them to husbands
side, and there Is always doubt about
divorce. Some Of the ladies at Mrs. Hor-
dered what the old lady had been think
ing of to take Mrs Bray In. The gentle
men, however, fought In her defens Q.
Beautiful, musical, fond Of Irritation and
apt at fiattcry, she won her way into their
liking. For my part, did not respect her
one whit. did not see anything to love
In her, but admired her. Unlike most
women, always found myself able to see
the charm that men see In personally
attractive woman.
But were q man could not do as men
do-hatter. these flirts at the expense of
true hearted women who love them with
all their souls, When good Mrs. Carman
went to her room with tears in her eyes,
leaving Mr.. Carman whispering soft
nothtngs In Mrs. Bray's ear, and when
little Effle Fay crimsoned and trembled
with anger because her lover forgot her
while he turned the beauty's music and
looked down into her eyes, I often thought
to myself that those were poor triumphs
after all, and those men who gave them
to her were but silly creatures. She liked
none Of them. She Knocked them and
had little nicknames for each. She was
cold in heart as she was warm in manner.
Her impassioned glances were those Of an
actress and nothing more.
She gave these glances to my Harry as
well as to others. but had no fear Of
their effect. OF course he knew she was
handsome and that she sang we'll, so did /,
We had met at Mrs. Horton's, / was
an orphan and taught music for my bread;
he was young clerk in n wholesale house.
Al our first meeting We had liked each
other, and he was the only lover I had
ever had. When gave him my betrothal
kiss 1t was with lips that had never met
those Of any man before, and was glad
to think Of 1t. We had been engaged
three months and were to be married in
the spring We were wrapped up in each
other, and l believed concerned ourselves
very little about Mrs. Bray, l did not,
1t pleased me better to think Of better
women. There were others whose minds
were continually running on her, however.
4eAlaus Effie Fay could never quite forget
her, Over and over and over again she
sat in her room, with tears pouring down
her cheeks, md talked Of her:
"She's wretch" she declared, "a bold
forward, cruel creature. She know
Charlie Ii engaged to me. She knows II
see it in her eyes, and she works so hard
to get him to herself. Charlie doesn't
know what he is doing for himself,
will break with him yet, and I do love
him 80. No one will ever love him SC
much"
Then she would cry again and begin the
old story Of Mrs. Bray's conduct, Of hel
looks, her contrivances, her becks ant
wreathed smiles. felt sorry for tn,
child-she was but 18-and sorry, too, fol-
Charlie, who was acting as most foolisl
boys do under those circumstances. Blu
one morning she began another strain.
Mrs, Bray Is at work with your Harr,
now," she said, "and she'll twist hin
round her finger soon, as she does IN,
Charlie. It's witchcraft those womei
have-an unholy power Of some kind
Youth see, Ethel yoU'h suffer as l dt
soon,"
As the day went on I noticed one or TIVE
things that were suspicious. I saw tha
she eontrived to meet my lover in tn
halls and on the stairs, to sit near him a
dinner time, to go out upon the balloon!
when he did
Charlie Beech was allowed TO ship bacl
into his old place in Effic's heart, and m
Harry was Mrs. Bray's object,
Effie had been sharper than l, bu
Harry was too strong In love for me t
yield, felt sure.
business compelled him to choose n board
| AuS PlaNC huAthcA uOwh toWu. I1t ltl
Mrs. Horizons and only called to see m
each other. l have the little notes h
wrote me carefully hidden away even now
They are very precious to me- As
read them over they bring those hour
hack again and am young and lovin
girl once more.
never loved Harry more tenderly tina
when sat down to my desk one mornin
to tell him Of Q little festivity which ha
been invited 70 attend, and to ask hi
escort, l never shall forget that day
After had posted the letter l sat in m
room and sewed upon the pretty dress
intended to wear, thinking all the Will
that 1t was Harry's favorite color, an
, that he would be sure to like it,
Effie, happy in her recovered lover, S,
with me and read aloud from little boz
Of verses Charlie bad given her. The
were not fine verses, nor was she an ell
, giant reader, hut there was love in the
/ and in her heart and that sufflced,
, l had finished the dress, and sat lool
i. ing down into the street, when l saw
: boy hurryipG along, 1t was the errar
q boy at HRrry's place, and Effie, who hs
9 ssen him also, ran down stairs to brir
. my note to me, for We both knew that
:, was my answer that shimmered in Il
8 little white envelope in his hand. s.
b ran down gayly, humming tune. s.
4 returned with q very serious face.
4 note was in her hand, with my mar
y upon 1t in Harry's writing, but her G
q preston frightened me so that l caug
= my breath.
"What Ia It, Effie,"
Ethel" she said, very sadly, 81 mt
tell you, though you'll hate me. The b
who brought that note brought one
: Mrs. Bray"
d =. so relieved that burst into a
|. Of laughter.
}, "why should that trouble met" I
J. quifed.
IS "Don't you see your Harry must hi
n written botht" she asked.
is "No," said !, ~ do not. lam not ],
E. Gus Of Harry"
Il Then broke the seal, and these W
IA the words read;
IS MADAM!:-I have another engagemt
rs am obliged to decline yours.
10 H. HEATHCOTI
le l put the billet down with stra
ID chill at my heart. What had l done
es deserve thiss What did IL means W
o. should dot A note like this from a
at trothel lover from whom had pal
n with the tenderest caresses! Effie
" that I was in trouble and forebore
ly question me, but she glided out Of
ne room and did not return for an III
nc When she came back her face was